Zion National Park (UT)
Rock Slide Temporarily Closes
Park Access
Mount Carmel Tunnel was reopened to traffic Saturday night after road
crews blasted away a house-sized boulder that was blocking a switchback
stretch of the highway just west of the tunnel. The rock fell on the
road, which crosses the southern portion of the park, on Friday morning,
bringing hundreds of tons of debris along with it. At least two
explosions were needed to break up the boulder, which was then carried
away in pieces with heavy equipment. Both lanes were open by 6:30 p.m.
Saturday. It was the second rockslide to hit the switchback in as many
weeks. On February 13th, a stone slab three feet thick, five feet wide
and 20 feet long crashed onto the roadway, temporarily blocking
traffic.
[Submitted by David Eaker, Fire Information and Education
Specialist]
Colorado National Monument (CO)
Follow-up on Fatal Auto
Accident
On the morning of January 10th, three hikers on the Monument Canyon
Trail came upon the burning wreckage of vehicle that had fallen from Rim
Rock Drive, some 450 feet above. Rangers, Mesa County deputies, Colorado
State Patrol troopers, and members of the Glade Park Volunteer Fire
Department responded. The remains of the body of J.C., 46, of
Grand Junction were found and removed. Rim Rock Drive was wet but not
icy at the time of the accident, and there was no indication of skidding
or other attempt to avoid the cliff. The vehicle was removed by
helicopter on February 3rd with the assistance of helitack crew from
Mesa Verde National Park. Ranger Joel Barnett was IC. County
investigators have released the results of their investigation and have
ruled the death as accidental, with alcohol a contributing factor.
[Submitted by Ron Young, Chief Ranger]
PARKS AND PEOPLE
Pacific West Region
Stan Albright Hospitalized
Stan Albright, retired career NPS employee, past associate director for operations and past superintendent of Yosemite, suffered a stroke last week while vacationing on the island of Maui. He's currently recovering at the Maui Memorial Medical Center. It's not yet known when he will be allowed to return home to Oregon. Tom and Karen Ritter have passed on some supplemental information on recent developments: "Stan is comfortable and began speech therapy yesterday. Kris will move from the resort where they were staying to a nearby cottage when space is available. She is elated with the support and love of the NPS family. Several people from NPS parks in Hawaii have visited Stan and Kris. They would appreciate cards and letters from anyone who wants to write. It is important that all correspondence contain humor. This means that serious messages are not needed. All correspondence should be sent t Maui Memorial Medical Center, 221 Mahalani Street, Attention: Stan Albright--Room 522, Wailuki, HI 96793."
[Submitted by Patty Neubacher, Tom Ritter]
Submission standards for the Morning Report can be found on the left side of the front page of InsideNPS. All reports should be submitted via email to Bill Halainen at Delaware Water Gap NRA, with a copy to your regional office and a copy to Dennis Burnett in Division of Law Enforcement and Emergency Services, WASO.
Prepared by Visitor and Resource Protection, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.